Recommended Reading
To God, the only wise, through Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Rom. xvi. 27
Four Leading Catholic Apologetics Magazines
BOOKS
Handbook of Christian Apologetics, by Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli (Intervarsity Press, 1994) - excellent general apologetics book summarizing the major arguments for the existence of God, faith & reason, free will, the problem of evil, the Bible's historical reliability, the divinity of Christ, and more. 406 pages
Catholicism and Fundamentalism, by Karl Keating (Ignatius Press, 1988) - Mr. Keating is the director of Catholic Answers, and his book is rightly called "a masterpiece of Catholic apologetics" by Fr. John A Hardon. It is an essential part of any apologist's library. 360 pages
Nuts & Bolts, by Tim Staples (Basilica Press, 1999) - concise and entertaining book presented in the form of fictional dialogues. Topics include the divinity of Christ, the Eucharist, the necessity of baptism, statues and icons, confession, Peter as the "rock" in Matthew 16:18, calling priest "father", justification and works, and more. 134 pages
Pope Fiction, by Patrick Madrid (Basilica Press, 1999) - answers to 30 myths and misconceptions about the papacy such as the petros/petra argument, Paul's rebuke of Peter, the 666 argument, the scandal of bad popes, Pope Honorius, the legend of "Pope Joan", the papacy and Galileo, the crusades, Bishop Strossmayer's speech denying the papacy, Pope Pius XII and the Jews, and more. 338 pages
Jesus, Peter & the Keys: A Scriptural Handbook on the Papacy, by Butler, Dahlgren, and Hess (Queenship Publishing Company, 1996) - respected apologist Scott Hahn is quoted as saying of this book that "The amount of useful and pertinent data in this veritable compendium is simply staggering. Whoever ignores it consigns his own work to irrelevance." It combines an amazing amount of scriptural, historical and patristic evidence in support of the authority of the pope. 405 pages
Upon This Rock, by Stephen K. Ray (Ignatius Press, 1999) - excellent book discussing St. Peter and the primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church. 297 pages.
Radio Replies, volumes I,II,III, by Frs. Leslie Rumble and Charles Carty (TAN Books & Publishers, 1979) - 4,374 quick replies to virtually every question ever asked about the Catholic Church and religion in general compiled into 3 volumes.
A Biblical Defense of Catholicism, by Dave Armstrong (1stBooks Library, 2001) - this popular internet apologist has put his best essays on the Bible & Tradition, Justification, Development of Doctrine, the Eucharist, Purgatory, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Papacy and Infallibility, and more, into his first book. 200 pages
The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth, by Scott Hahn (Doubleday Books, 1999) - brilliant discussion of the relation between the Book of Revelation and the Catholic Mass. 174 pages
Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God, by Scott Hahn (Doubleday Books, 2001) - Fr. Bertrand De Margerie says that this book "is a remarkable presentation of the biblical texts on Mary. They should be the soul of Catholic Mariology and it should help Protestant readers toward a better understanding of Holy Scripture." 175 pages
Hitler, the War, and the Pope, by Ronald Rychlak (Our Sunday Visitor, 2000) - With exacting scholarship, Professor Ron Rychlak gives a full exploration of the background facts, including discussion of history, religion, politics, diplomacy, and military tactics. Then come ten fundamental questions concerning Pope Pius XII and the Nazis which are answered with legal analysis and authoritative citation. The epilogue provides a critical examination of John Cornwell's recent book on the same topic (from the back of the book). 443 pages
Not By Scripture Alone, by Robert Sungenis (Queenship Publishing Company, 1997) - a wonderfully thorough investigation of the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura. 590 pages.
Not By Faith Alone, by Robert Sungenis (Queenship Publishing Company, 1997) - Mr. Sungenis continues his excellent work by presenting the biblical evidence for the Catholic doctrine of Justification. 702 pages
Not By Bread Alone, by Robert Sungenis (Queenship Publishing Company, 2000) - discussion of the Mass and the Eucharist of superior quality similar to his other two books. 428 pages.
